The Orissa Institute of Medical Research and Health Services (OMRAH), founded in 1986, is a professional association of medical and developmental professionals interested in health, education, and social development of the communities living under economic privation, outreach localities and devoid of adequate access to basic services. Since the beginning, under the leadership of Dr. Sashimani Pand
a, a former professor of a medical college, friends from various walks of life have been drawn together to forge an alliance to promote medical research and health services. As they moved on programs of women’s empowerment, adolescent education, early childhood education and so on were brought into focus as a response to local needs. However the prospective of OMRAH can be easily understood from its development history, presented below. Health Camps in villages
Sunday Clinic at Matrumangal Kendra, Kulagaun Ishalo
Training to RCVs under poverty alleviation program in urban slums. Opening of Niali Rural Health Center and conducted Nurse Aid Training. Family Counseling Center at the headquarter office, Cuttack. Comprehensive Health Care Service in Urban Slum Pockets (Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Orissa). Starting of PVOH-II Project (an USAID program through Ministry of Health & FW, Government of India). District Coordinator for Health NGOs in Cuttack district. Establishment of Rural Health Center (on Maternity and Child Health) at Kulagaoun Ishalo with 2 Satellite Centers at Jamara and Chanpur. Conducted research work on ICDS, supported by Women & Child Development Department, Government of Orissa. In-house training for other NGOs, both at Rural Health Centers and at the headquarter, Cuttack. Functioning of Mobile Medicare Unit. Starting of Women’s Empowerment Program. Starting of Pre-school and Non-formal Education Program. Initiation of Study Centers. Addition of two more components of RCH to its regular and routine MCH care. Reproductive Tract infection
Adolescent girls’ education and training
Strengthening of Referral System. Capacity Building of Traditional Birth Attendants. Started relief and rehabilitation program. Starting of Sexual and RH Care in urban slums. Formation of Mobile Training Team. Started Self Help Groups (SHGs) in rural areas
Reconstructed village community centers. Started conducting Action Research on issues of reproductive and sexual health (Relating to Adolescents) in both urban and rural areas
Program for adolescent girls. Reproductive health. Clinic for the urban slum community. Community-based disaster preparedness program. Research Studies on Anaemia during Pregnancy and Lactation; and on Adolescent Sexual Health. Targeted Intervention on HIV/AIDS in Urban Slums. Study Center for adolescent girls and young women under National Institute of Open Schooling (MHRD, Govt. of India). Research on Provider-related Issues on Abortion. Integrated Rural Project for Child Development (continues since 1998) adopts “Right”-based approach (continuing). Social Capital Restoration Program. Disaster Preparedness Training and Resource Material Development. Strengthening disaster preparedness through local self government. Strengthening mobile health care system. Sustaining the right-based programs for the holistic development of children.
